U.S. patent number 6,126,550 [Application Number 09/211,602] was granted by the patent office on 2000-10-03 for method and apparatus for a tilting free-fall amusement ride.
Invention is credited to Alfeo Moser, Mattia Moser, Nicola Moser, Sebastiano Moser, Stefano Moser.
United States Patent |
6,126,550 |
Moser , et al. |
October 3, 2000 |
Method and apparatus for a tilting free-fall amusement ride
Abstract
Method an apparatus for providing a thrilling amusement ride to
a passenger stemming predominantly from the inducement of a feeling
of dropping through the air and falling from the ride's supporting
chair. The method includes positioning a passenger in a passenger
support or chair of an amusement ride in a forward facing
orientation. The passenger support is located at a drop position in
a pre-fall orientation. This drop position may be an origination
position, or may be a position to which the support is raised. The
passenger support, together with the passenger, is tilted forward
into a falling orientation which is at a predetermined tilt-angle
to the pre-fall orientation. The passenger support, together with
the passenger, is dropped from the drop position to a lower
position while the passenger support and the passenger are in the
forward tilted falling orientation thereby providing a thrilling
amusement ride to the passenger.
Inventors: |
Moser; Alfeo (46035 Ostiglia
(MN), IT), Moser; Stefano (46035 Ostiglia (MN),
IT), Moser; Nicola (46035 Ostiglia (MN),
IT), Moser; Mattia (46035 Ostiglia (MN),
IT), Moser; Sebastiano (46035 Ostiglia (MN),
IT) |
Family
ID: |
22787603 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/211,602 |
Filed: |
December 14, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/50;
472/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G
31/00 (20130101); A63G 2031/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63G
31/00 (20060101); A63G 031/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;472/49,50,131,2,80 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Kien T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Royston, Rayzor, Vickery, Novak
& Druce, L.L.P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing a tilting gravitational amusement ride to
a
passenger, said method comprising:
positioning a passenger in a passenger support of an amusement ride
in a forward facing orientation;
locating said passenger support at a drop position in a pre-fall
orientation;
tilting said passenger support, together with said passenger,
forward into a falling orientation, said falling orientation being
at a predetermined tilt-angle to said pre-fall orientation;
dropping said passenger support, together with said passenger, from
said drop position to a lower position while said passenger support
and said passenger are in said forward tilted falling orientation
thereby providing a thrilling amusement ride to said passenger;
and
coupling said passenger support to a carriage at a pivot
connection, said pivot connection configured to permit said tilting
of said passenger support between said pre-fall orientation and
said falling orientation.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said tilting step
further comprises:
inducing in said passenger a sensation of falling forward out of
said passenger support.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, said dropping step further
comprising:
said passenger and said passenger support traveling through a
free-fall phase and a braking phase from said drop position toward
a ride termination position.
4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
said free-fall phase constitutes approximately two-thirds of a
total falling travel distance of said passenger support and said
braking phase constitutes approximately one-third of said total
falling travel distance of said passenger support.
5. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
said free-fall phase constitutes at least one-half of a total
falling travel distance of said passenger support.
6. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
said passenger and said passenger support being oriented in said
tilted falling orientation during travel across said free-fall
phase and said braking phase.
7. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
said passenger and said passenger support being oriented in said
tilted falling orientation during travel across said free-fall
phase; and
said passenger and said passenger support being oriented in a
braking orientation during travel across said braking phase.
8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:
said braking orientation being affected by tilting said passenger
and said passenger support back toward said pre-fall orientation
from said falling orientation.
9. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:
said braking orientation and said pre-fall orientation being like
orientations of said passenger and passenger support.
10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
limiting said tilt-angle of said passenger and said passenger
support based upon stress limitations of a vulnerable physical
region of said passenger, said vulnerable physical region being
susceptible to injury when said passenger is exposed to excessive
deceleration in said braking phase of said travel.
11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said vulnerable
physical region is the neck structure of said passenger.
12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of locating
said passenger support at said drop position in said pre-fall
orientation further comprises:
raising said passenger and said passenger support from a load
position to said drop position in said pre-fall orientation.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said pre-fall
orientation comprises a substantially upright sitting position of
said passenger.
14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
locating said pivot connection at a lower portion of said passenger
support distantly from a head of said passenger, said head of said
passenger being positioned proximate an upper portion of said
passenger support.
15. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
establishing a travel course for said carriage by engaging a guide
connected to said carriage upon an elongate track coupled to an
elevating tower.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, said guides further
comprising:
a set of wheels engaged upon said elongate track and configured for
positive traction thereupon; and
a brake device coupled to at least one wheel of said set of wheels
for slowing and stopping said carriage and said passenger support
relative to said elongate track.
17. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a latching mechanism releasably engageable between said carriage
and said passenger support for securing said passenger support in
said pre-fall orientation when engaged and permitting tilting of
said passenger support when released.
18. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
an operating mechanism coupled between said carriage and said
passenger support for tilting said passenger support between said
pre-fall orientation and said falling orientation.
19. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
securing said passenger in said passenger support utilizing a
restraint that pivots into and out of engagement with an upper body
region of said passenger.
20. A tilting gravitational amusement ride for a passenger
comprising:
an elevational tower having at least a portion that is
substantially vertically oriented;
a carrier engaged upon said elevational tower, said carrier adapted
for substantially vertical travel relative to said elevational
tower and at least a portion of said carrier's travel being through
a substantially free-fall phase of travel; and
a passenger support coupled to said carrier by a tilting
connection, said tilting connection adapted to accommodate limited
forward pivotation of said passenger support relative to said
carrier so that said passenger support is transformable between a
substantially upright pre-fall orientation and a forward tilted
falling orientation.
Description
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to amusement rides, and
more specifically to a tilting free-fall amusement ride that gives
the passenger a feeling of dropping through mid-air and slipping
from the chair in which they are being carried.
2. Background Art
Amusement rides that take advantage of the earth's gravity to give
a rider the feeling of dropping through mid-air toward the ground
are known. In most known embodiments, an elevated tower is provided
upon which the passenger is raised to an upper position. From that
position, the carrier in which the passenger rests is permitted to
drop toward the ground's surface. The drop of the carrier is
controlled, but at least a portion of the travel imparts the
sensation of a free-fall to the passenger. The unaccustomed
free-fall feeling experienced by the passenger is awkward and
exhilarating therefore creates a thrilling amusement ride.
In the conventional and known designs for free-fall amusement
rides, the passenger typically is maintained in an upright,
vertical sitting position throughout the ride's course. In this
position, the passenger experiences the free-fall sensation because
it is communicated to him or her from the carrier in which they are
sitting. During this free-fall period, however, the passenger's
vision is directed substantially horizontally away from the tower
and therefore no substantial visual sensation regarding the fall is
experienced by the passenger. Still further, because the upright
and erect seated position of the passenger provides full support
throughout the ride, a feeling of security is imparted, which is
contrary to the desired thrilling effect which instead requires the
impartation of an insecure feeling to the passenger.
In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the
rider experiences produced by known designs for free-fall
gravitational amusement rides, the present invention has been
developed to enhance the thrilling effects of such rides and
provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and
benefits are described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect
to several alternative embodiments of the present invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments
alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to
conventionally designed free-fall, gravitational amusement rides
and incorporates several additionally beneficial features.
The conventional and known design for free-fall gravitational
amusement rides has been enhanced so that a more thrilling ride is
provided to the passenger. This has been primarily accomplished by
adding a feature that permits the supporting chair for the
passenger to be tilted forward so that a sensation is imparted
causing the passenger to feel as though they are being dumped out
of the seat. This removes all feelings of security which had
previously been imparted when the supporting seat was maintained in
an upright configuration. Still further, by tilting the passenger
forward, his or her vision is directed, instead of horizontally
away from the tower, downwardly toward the ground which is quickly
approaching during the ride's free-fall phase of operation. In this
manner, the tilted free-fall gravitational amusement ride of the
present invention is made far more exhilarating and thrilling to
the passenger.
In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of
a method for providing a thrilling amusement ride to a passenger
stemming predominantly from the inducement of a feeling of dropping
through the air and falling from the ride's supporting chair. The
method includes positioning a passenger in a passenger support or
chair of an amusement ride in a forward facing orientation. The
passenger support is located at a drop position in a pre-fall
orientation. This drop position may be an origination position, or
may be a position to which the support has been raised. The
passenger support, together with the passenger, is tilted forward
into a falling orientation which is at a predetermined tilt-angle
to the pre-fall orientation. The passenger support, together with
the passenger, is dropped from the drop position to a lower
position while the passenger support and the passenger are in the
forward tilted falling orientation thereby providing a thrilling
amusement ride to the passenger.
During this process, at least the tilting step induces in the
passenger a sensation of falling forward out of the passenger
support.
During the dropping step, the passenger and the passenger support
travel through a free-fall phase and a braking phase from the drop
position toward a ride termination position. The free-fall phase
constitutes approximately two-thirds of a total falling travel
distance of the passenger support and the braking phase constitutes
approximately one-third of the total falling travel distance of the
passenger support.
In at least one embodiment, the passenger and the passenger support
are oriented in the tilted falling orientation during travel across
the free-fall phase and the braking phase.
Alternatively, the passenger and the passenger support may be
oriented in the tilted falling orientation during travel across the
free-fall phase and in a braking orientation during travel across
the braking phase. In this case, the braking orientation is
affected by tilting the passenger and the passenger support back
toward the pre-fall orientation from the falling orientation.
Preferably, the braking orientation and the pre-fall orientation
are like orientations of the passenger and passenger support.
For safety reasons, the tilt-angle of the passenger and the
passenger support is limited based upon stress limitations of a
vulnerable physical region of the passenger that is susceptible to
injury when the passenger
is exposed to excessive deceleration in the braking phase of
travel. More specifically, the vulnerable physical region is the
neck structure of the passenger.
In one embodiment, the step of locating the passenger support at
the drop position in the pre-fall orientation includes raising the
passenger and the passenger support from a load position to the
drop position in the pre-fall orientation which is a substantially
upright sitting position of the passenger.
In an exemplary embodiment, the passenger support is coupled to a
carriage at a pivot connection that is configured to permit the
tilting of the passenger support between the pre-fall orientation
and the falling orientation. The pivot connection is located at a
lower portion of the passenger support distantly from a head of the
passenger which is positioned proximate an upper portion of the
passenger support.
A travel course for the carriage is established by engaging a guide
that is connected to the carriage upon an elongate track that is
coupled to an elevating tower. The guides include a set of wheels
engaged upon the elongate track and that are configured for
positive traction thereupon. A brake device is coupled to at least
one wheel of the set of wheels for slowing and stopping the
carriage and the passenger support relative to the elongate
track.
In one embodiment, a latching mechanism is releasably engageable
between the carriage and the passenger support for securing the
passenger support in the pre-fall orientation when engaged and
permitting tilting of the passenger support when released. An
operating mechanism is coupled between the carriage and the
passenger support for tilting the passenger support between the
pre-fall orientation and the falling orientation.
For safety, the passenger may be secured in the passenger support
utilizing a restraint that pivots into and out of engagement with
an upper body region of the passenger.
The beneficial effects described above apply generally to the
exemplary devices and methods disclosed herein of the tilting
free-fall, gravitational amusement rides. The specific structures
and steps through which these benefits are delivered will be
described in detail hereinbelow .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in greater detail in the
following way of example only and with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the free-fall gravitational amusement
ride illustrating the sequence of chair orientation's experienced
in a cycle of the ride;
FIG. 2 is a detailed partial cutaway elevational view of the
loading stage;
FIG. 3 is a detailed partial cutaway elevational view of a seated
passenger being raised from the loading stage to the drop
stage;
FIG. 4 is a detailed partial cutaway elevational view of a seated
passenger positioned in the drop stage;
FIG. 5 is a detailed partial cutaway elevational view of the
passenger and passenger support being tilted forward into the
falling orientation;
FIG. 6 is a detailed partial cutaway elevational view of the
passenger and passenger support in the free-fall phase of the
ride's course; and
FIG. 7 is a detailed partial cutaway elevational view of the
passenger and passenger support being returned to the upright
orientation at the loading station.
MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present invention.
Furthermore, elements may be recited as being "coupled"; this
terminology's use contemplates elements being connected together in
such a way that there may be other components interstitially
located between the specified elements, and that the elements so
specified may be connected in fixed or movable relation one to the
other.
As explained above, gravitational amusement rides are familiar and
their construction is well known to those skilled in the art of
designing and constructing the same. The components and mechanisms
utilized to affect the present invention are known to those of
ordinary skill in the art and their cooperations will be readily
understood. Therefore, the exact structures and mechanical devices
are less critical to the present invention than is the effect that
is produced in a passenger 55 by the tilting gravitational
amusement ride 10. As a result, it will be assumed that those
persons of ordinary skill in the art are familiar with the
structures and operations of the several standard components
utilized to affect the thrill and excitement experienced by a
passenger 55 riding upon the tilting gravitational amusement ride
10. Therefore, less emphasis will be placed on the description of
these known structural components and greater emphasis will be
placed on the claimed method for simultaneously inducing anxiety
and exhilaration in the passenger 55.
Regarding the construction of the tilting gravitational amusement
ride 10, reference is made to the illustrative FIGS. 1-7. FIG. 1
illustrates not only the structure of the ride 10, but also the
cycle through which a passenger 55 travels during the travel course
67 of the amusement ride 10. An elevational tower 13 is shown in an
erect configuration upon a base 16 which typically rests upon and
is anchored to the ground. The base 16 provides a loading station
platform 19 where passengers 55 are loaded and unloaded onto and
off of the ride 10. This location is also referred to as the load
position 88.
As in conventionally designed gravitational amusement rides, the
elevational tower 13 includes a substantially upright elongate
track 49 upon which a carriage 34 travels on guides 46. The
carriage 34 has a passenger support 22 mounted thereupon. The
passenger support 22 includes a chair-type structure upon which the
passenger 55 directly rests. The chair includes a headrest,
backrest and a seat for the passenger 55 to sit upon and a
restraint 31 for retaining the passenger 55 safely in the support
22 throughout the ride's 10 cycle. The restraint 31 is pivotally
connected at an upper portion 28 of the passenger support 22. The
restraint 31 is of conventional design and well-known in the
amusement ride arts.
The passenger support 22 is pivotally coupled to the carriage 34 at
a lower portion 25 of the support 22. The pivot connection 37
permits the passenger support 22 and the chair carried thereupon to
pivot between a substantially upright orientation, also described
as a pre-fall orientation 92, and a tilted orientation which is
referred to as a falling orientation 95. The degree of tilt between
the pre-fall orientation 92 and the falling orientation 95 is
predetermined and restricted as described herein below. This degree
of tilt is also characterized as the tilt angle 98.
During operation, the passenger support 22 is controlled and
operated between the orientations 92, 95. This operation is in part
accomplished utilizing a releasable latching mechanism 40 that when
engaged secures the passenger support 22 in an upright position in
which the passenger 55 is in a sitting position. The latching
mechanism 40 is positioned between the carriage 34 and the
passenger support 22. When the latching mechanism 40 is released,
the passenger support 22 is permitted to tilt or be tilted from the
pre-fall orientation 92 toward and into the falling orientation 95.
This tilting may be permitted to occur automatically responsive to
the unlatching of the latching mechanism 40 and the force of the
passenger's 55 weight which is cantilevered outward a from the
pivot connection 37. Alternatively, the tilting action can be
induced by an operating mechanism 43 which in the described
embodiment is a rotary motor and may be exemplarily
electromechanical, hydraulic or other suitable configuration. The
operating mechanism 43 not only controls the transformation from
the pre-fall orientation 92 to the falling orientation 95, but also
returns the passenger support 22 back to the upright configuration
from the tilted configuration toward the conclusion of the ride's
10 cycle. When returned to the upright or pre-fall orientation 92,
the latching mechanism 40 once again is engaged and that
configuration is locked in until released.
A travel course 67 of the tilting gravitational amusement ride 10
takes a passenger 55 from the loading station 19 to a drop
positioned 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage 34 and
passenger support 22 are raised from the loading station 19 to the
drop position 70 which is located thereabove. Alternatively, the
loading station 19 may also be at the drop positioned 70 from which
the passenger 55 is dropped. In the exemplary case, however, an
elevating motor is utilized to raise the passenger support 22,
together with the passenger 55 up to the drop position 70.
The guides 46 of the carriage 34 include sets of wheels that ride
along the elongate track 49. In the illustrated embodiment, and
which may be appreciated in FIG. 2, opposed sets of wheels are
provided on opposite sides of the track 49. In this way the course
of travel of the carriage 34 is controlled and maintained to be
substantially vertical both on the way up to the drop position 70
and back down during the exhilarating drop portion of the ride 10.
A brake device 52 is provided upon the carriage 34 for slowing and
stopping the carriage 34 with respect to the elongate track 49.
Those familiar with design and construction of such amusement rides
will recognize that the brake device 52 may be associated with the
wheel's of the guide 46 or may be adapted to directly engaged the
track 49. In either event, a braking action will be facilitated so
that the carriage 34 and passenger support 22 can be safely
controlled during the course of the ride 10.
As explained above, a cycle of the ride 10 may begin at the
elevated drop position 70, but will typically originate at the
lower positioned loading station 19. The course 67 and action of
the ride 10 is best appreciated in FIG. 1, and with reference to
the various six configurations and positions referenced in FIG. 1
and illustrated in greater detail and FIGS. 2-7. Initially, a
passenger 55 is loaded upon the chair portion of the passenger
support 22 and the restraint 31 is pivoted down into place so that
it is securely engaged about the passenger's 55 upper body. The
elevating mechanism is actuated and the carriage 34, together with
the passenger support 22 and passenger 55 is raised to the drop
position 70 Along this course, the passenger 55 remains in a
sitting, upright position. This portion of the ride 10 is
referenced and FIG. 1 utilizing the number 2, a configuration that
is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.
Upon reaching the drop position 70, the passenger support 22 is
permitted to tilt, or is tilted from the upright and sitting
pre-fall orientation 92 to the tilted falling orientation 95. To
accomplish such tilting, the latching mechanism 40 is released and
the passenger 55 is either motored to the tilted position using the
operating mechanism 43 or the support 22 is simply allowed to drop
to the tilted position and falling orientation 95 under the
passenger's 55 own weight. The method of permitting the passenger
55 to drop to the tilted position 95 produces a very thrilling
sensation because the passenger 55 first feels as though they are
freely tilting to a position in which they will fall out of the
seat 22, and then when abruptly stopped at the tilted falling
orientation 95 they will have the sensation of being propelled off
of the seat 22 until the security of the restraint 31 is
encountered and appreciated.
The tilting action is accommodated by the pivot connection 37 and
is limited either by the operating mechanism 43 or appropriate
stops. In any event, the tilting forward of the passenger 55
enhances the effects of the amusement ride 10 significantly.
Initially, the tilting action imparts a feeling to the passenger 55
that he or she is being tilted out of, or dumped from the passenger
support chair 22. Since the carriage 34 is at a significantly
elevated position at this drop position 70, the resulting effect
upon the passenger 55 is one of immediate anxiety before feeling
the security of the restraint 31. Because it is experienced in the
amusement ride setting, this anxiety is considered thrilling and
exhilarating by the passenger 55. Either simultaneously or shortly
thereafter, the carriage 34 begins to drop over a falling travel
distance 73. This dropping action can be in fact free-fall, or it
can be slightly controlled but the effect experienced by the
passenger 55 is still one of free-fall. Unlike in conventional
gravitational amusement rides, the passenger 55 is now looking more
directly at the ground in the tilted falling orientation 95 and
appreciates the fact that the ground is quickly approaching and the
effect being experienced at that time is an uncontrolled falling
directly theretoward. The enhancement provided by the tilting
action of the amusement ride 10 of the present invention is
significant and potentiates the anxiety, thrill and excitement
experienced by the passenger 55.
Before the carriage 34 reaches the ground, it is controllably
braked so that the passenger 55 is comfortably returned to the
loading position 19. Because this braking action imparts
significant deceleration in the passenger 55, it is considered to
be the critical portion of the ride 10. In the tilted falling
orientation 95, a passenger 55 can suffer injury to the neck region
or structure 58 if too great of a deceleration force is imposed.
The vulnerability of the neck region 50 stems from the fact that
the comparatively heavy head 64 has substantial inertia induced by
the falling action of the free fall chase 76 of the falling travel
distance 73. Therefore, deceleration of the carriage 34 and
passenger 55 must be carefully initiated and controlled during the
braking phase 79 of the travel distance 73. In the illustrated
embodiment, the free-fall phase 76 accounts for approximately
two-thirds of the falling travel distance 73 and the braking phase
79 accounts for approximately one-third of the falling travel
distance 73.
The braking phase 79 concludes toward a lower position 82 and ends
in a ride determination position 85. In the illustrated embodiment,
the ride termination position 85 coincides with the load position
88 and occurs at the loading station or platform 19.
The tilt angle 98 must be controlled so as to prevent injury to the
passenger 55 during the braking phase 79 of the travel course 67 of
the tilting gravitational amusement ride 10 as described. The
maximum safe tilt angle 98 is experimentally determined and then
the actual tilt angle 98 is restricted within a range between that
determined angle and the upright position. This orientation may be
best appreciated in FIG. 5 that illustrates the tilting action at
the drop position 70 experienced either prior to or simultaneously
with that dropping of the carriage 34 and passenger 55 into the
free-fall phase 76 of the falling travel distance 73.
At the conclusion of the travel course 67, the passenger support 22
and passenger 55 are together tilted back to be upright orientation
92 from the tilted falling orientation 95. This return to the
upright position is illustrated in FIG. 7 and is accomplished using
the operating mechanism 43. In this manner, the passenger is
returned to be familiar sitting position and is re-oriented for
discharge from the ride 10.
A tilting free-fall, gravitational amusement ride and its method of
operation has been described herein. These and other variations,
which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, are within
the intended scope of this invention as claimed below. As
previously stated, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various forms.
* * * * *